Spirit Halloween....how they do what they do...

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Mon Oct 28, 2024 7:32 pm

It's a weird store. It feels like it has the model of a pop-up store, popping up in a different place every year, which I guess means they're always in search of the cheapest properties from year to year. By the time Holloween is over, it's gone and the cycle repeats the following year.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Mon Oct 28, 2024 7:33 pm

Gotta do something with all of those old malls.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Mon Oct 28, 2024 7:45 pm

It is currently owned by Spencer Gifts.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Mon Oct 28, 2024 7:55 pm

On the news the other day, they mentioned that they’re branching out to Christmas stuff now.

AWS260 · Post by **AWS260** » Mon Oct 28, 2024 10:23 pm

Somehow, New York manages to support not one, but two year-round Halloween stores. I have no idea how they stay in business outside of October. Rent ain't cheap.

Zarathud · Post by **Zarathud** » Mon Oct 28, 2024 11:11 pm

There are at least 3 year-round stores in Chicago.
Chicago Costume has two locations.
Fantasy Costume is a whole block long.
I think there are also a few costume rental places.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Mon Oct 28, 2024 11:23 pm

I keep one of those places in business with my Bea Arthur needs.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 5:51 am

We had a few of year round Halloween/Costume/Theatre and dance shops in the western 'burbs of Detroit, at least in the before times. At least three of them. One even had all the huge lawn gnomes and animatronics that have been so in fashion for the last decade or so. I assumed that one is/was a warehouse for seasonal shops. We also have those all year long party shops which sell plenty of Halloween kitsch year round but then try to specialize the specifics of their makeup/costuming/seasonal kitsch when the seasons change.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 10:07 am

Zarathud wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2024 11:11 pm There are at least 3 year-round stores in Chicago.
Chicago Costume has two locations.
Fantasy Costume is a whole block long.
I think there are also a few costume rental places.

Chicago and Fantasy are within walking distance of each other (if you're willing to walk a bit).

Zarathud · Post by **Zarathud** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 10:15 am

Both are close to my house if I was willing to walk a bit.

hentzau · Post by **hentzau** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 10:54 am

Zarathud wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2024 10:15 am Both are close to my house if I was willing to walk a bit.

Ditto. About a 3 mile round trip walk. Easy stretch of the legs.

I used to frequent the place a lot when I was more involved in community theater. Not for costume rentals but cheap props and makeup.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 11:12 am

When i walk to the train (i.e., I'm not being lazy and taking the bus), I walk right by Chicago. And when I walk to the eye doctor I walk right by Fantasy.

AWS260 · Post by **AWS260** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 3:01 pm

hepcat wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2024 11:23 pm I keep one of those places in business with my Bea Arthur needs.

That's because they keep charging you to replace their Bea Arthur costume. You can't return it with those kind of stains...

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 6:29 pm

Those aren't stains. They're Love Marks.

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 6:29 pm

hepcat wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2024 7:55 pm On the news the other day, they mentioned that they’re branching out to Christmas stuff now.

extend the property lease by two months and now get two major merchandise holidays in the same fiscal quarter

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 6:31 pm

I'm just waiting for them to expand into Arbor Day. I'm sick and freakin' tired of having to make my own Douglas Fir costume each year.

Zarathud · Post by **Zarathud** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 6:50 pm

hepcat wrote:Those aren't stains. They're Love Marks.

There was a Yo Gabba Gabba Munoz (the orange penis guy) used costume for sale at Chicago Costume with some very concerning stains. Cheap, and well loved indeed. I wouldn’t want to explain them to anyone — let alone kids.

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 7:04 pm

hepcat wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2024 6:31 pm I'm just waiting for them to expand into Arbor Day. I'm sick and freakin' tired of having to make my own Douglas Fir costume each year.

Maybe mix it up next year with a costume riffing off your gigilo name, Douglas Fur?

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 7:55 pm

You know as well as I do I work under the name Sugar Maple.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Wed Oct 30, 2024 4:44 pm

Rumpy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2024 7:32 pm It's a weird store. It feels like it has the model of a pop-up store, popping up in a different place every year, which I guess means they're always in search of the cheapest properties from year to year. By the time Holloween is over, it's gone and the cycle repeats the following year.

We had to drive 40 minutes to get to one. Oddly enough, they have a distribution center about 5 minutes away.

The last few years, they were no far in an old large retail space that this past year became a fitness club.

miltonite · Post by **miltonite** » Thu Oct 31, 2024 11:29 pm

99% invisible had a good podcast episode on it, featuring the original owner.

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